After a five minute drive off Gisozi memorial centre, we enter through a gate next to a sign post with an inscription of Aspire Rwanda. Past a big play ground dotted with childrens’ play facilities; I meet a happy woman of light complexion waiting for me at the entrance of the building. She introduces herself as the head of the organisation which runs several activities for disadvantaged women and children.

This is Aspire Rwanda, a place where disadvantaged women have found hope, love and fulfilment of dreams.

"I once walked into Aspire Rwanda premises because I was curious to see what goes on there. On walking in, I saw women learning how to braid hair, others were trying to bake bread, among many other activities that I really felt I wanted to be part of,” says 38-year-old Hilda Mutoni.But Mutoni could not join because she didn’t fall in the class of poor women which is the target of Aspire Rwanda.

Mutoni has never pursued any career because she bid the blackboard farewell after primary school to get married. She saw marriage as a direct ticket to a better life, hence, her marriage to Emmanuel Mutuganya and the birth of her two sons, now four and two years old respectively.

"I told them I’m a house wife with no work to earn a living. I convinced them that vocational training would be of great help since I was tired of staying home doing nothing,” Mutoni says.

A year after she first requested to join the organisation, in 2013, Mutoni was given a chance to enrol at Aspire Rwanda. She is currently the president of Ruhuka Uberoneza Cooperative which is loosely translated as "rest and live a good life.”

"I teach women in my neighbourhood a lot of things such as braiding, how to manage their finances and I encourage them to take on vocational training.

"Today I’m a good hair dresser and I now earn an income which compliments what my husband gets and we are able to take care of our family collectively,” Mutoni says.

Aspire Rwanda is a non- government organisation that helps give resilient hard-working women the skills and confidence to make their own choices, become self-sufficient, and take control of their lives.

Peace Ruzage, the CEO and founder of Aspire Rwanda, says that Aspire Rwanda opened its doors in 2009 and over the last five years, 450 women have acquired skills in vocational training and rights awareness.

"We had a high number of jobless widows and single mothers in the area who lacked the skills and the education to provide for themselves and their families. I saw an opportunity for a fresh start for these women through empowerment. I founded Aspire Rwanda to address that issue,” Ruzage says. The first group graduated in 2010.

According to Ruzage, every year, Aspire enrols 50 vulnerable women for a twelve-month training course focusing on equipping them with catering, handicraft, and hairdressing skills as well as teaching them the English language which comes in handy for their business opportunities.

Graduates have formed cooperatives that provide business opportunities and mutual support networks.

"The beneficiaries are identified by their local leaders as the most vulnerable. Women who graduate from the Aspire programmes are supported for two years after graduation with ongoing training and business advice,” Ruzage says.

She also says that a 2013 survey among 58 graduates indicated that their average income had more than doubled since graduating.

"The women are provided with counselling and childcare facilities while they are in training. Their spouses are also sensitised on gender-based violence, family planning, rights of women, children, hygiene and nutrition,” Ruzage says.

In 2013, Ruzage was nominated for The Guardian International Achievement Award. The annual award is in recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of the world’s poorest people.

"For many Rwandan women who are attempting to raise children and earn money, they have few options for childcare other than leaving young children home alone or withdrawing an older sibling from school to take care of their younger siblings. It’s on these grounds that we felt the need to keep the women in training, we needed to offer childcare services which allow mothers to concentrate on the vocational programme,” Ruzage adds. Aspire has two branches one in Gisozi and the other in Rutunga.

Both programmes equip women with vocational skills and knowledge in business and entrepreneurship, civic education, health and hygiene, first aid, and gender-based violence.

The Rutunga programme started in January 2013 with support from Department for International Development (DFID) and Network for Africa, and is working to improve social welfare and food security by equipping beneficiaries with agricultural skills.

"The women in Rutunga are learning techniques to improve crop yields through land and resource management,” says Ruzage.

Ruzage also says that the government has given 24 hectares of land to the women.

Like many charity organisations, Aspire Rwanda is not immune to challenges.

"Our outstanding challenge is a source of funding since most of it comes from donors. We have partnerships with various organisations for our programmes but we still need more support in this aspect,” Ruzage adds.

In partnership with Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), Aspire Rwanda carries out sensitisation amongst couples so as to embrace gender equality.

According to Valerie Mukarushema, a social worker at Aspire Rwanda, women are more vulnerable to domestic violence because they entirely depend on their husbands.

"Sensitisation programmes have helped couples to learn the importance of gender equality in the household and how to engage in healthy relationships. We get guest speakers that engage participants in conversation about the importance of conflict management, the impact of gender-based violence, and family planning,” Mukarushema explains.

RWAMREC is a non-governmental organisation that works to promote gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence.

Jackie Mukagasana, a resident of Kanyinya Village, Ruhango cell not only benefited from the vocational trainings but has also learnt how to exercise her rights.

"In 2011, I was cohabiting with my current husband. He was violent and each time he came home drunk from the bar he abused me. When I joined Aspire Rwanda, I was able to open up about my ordeal,” Mukagasana narrates.

She adds that it took her husband, who was the bread winner, a few sessions on sensitisation programmes to change.

"He changed and in 2012 we got married in a civil ceremony that was facilitated by Aspire Rwanda. I’m empowered and my family is happy,” Mukagasana says.

doreen.umutesi@newtimes.co.rw